Is there good in church hurt?

Today's Devotion, Is there good in church hurt? Is there good in church hurt? Yes, there is. As difficult as it may seem, there is good when we experience church hurt. Once we decide to follow Jesus, we must always remember that the journey of righteousness comes with its own challenges.

In Matthew 7 verse 12-14 it is written. So in everything, do to others, and what you would have them do to you. For this sums up the law and the prophets.

Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate, and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Church hurt is a test that you must pass in order for you to be ready to follow Jesus.

When you come face to face with your Judas, are you going to abandon your mission or are you going to continue on your journey? Church hurt teaches the necessity of forgiveness for one's own healing. If you are going through your church hurt experience, do not fight fire with fire. Because God is seeing how you resolve your conflict, and he is also hearing how you are dealing with it.

Never allow gossip or malice to be your way of resolving it, not because they have gossiped about you. Do not do the same to them. The destructive power of gossip has caused many people to walk away from the church.

In James 1 verse 26 it is written, If anyone thinks he is righteous, and does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. And in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 20 it is written, For I fear that perhaps when I come, I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish, that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. Heavenly Father, take full control of my emotions so that I do not say anything that isn't pleasing to whoever has said things against me.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Lord, I ask for your divine intervention for those who have walked away from the church. Help them to overcome bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness.

Lord, help them to be stronger and more faith-filled because of their experience. There is nothing that you cannot do. And Lord, I thank you for being my refuge in my time of weakness, and thank you to help me to run to you and not away from you.

All these I ask in Jesus' name, amen.